Kite flying apparatus



Nov. 6, 1962 c. K. SULGER 3,062,488

KITE FLYING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 28, 1961 2 Shee'ts- Sheet l INVENTORCHAMPLY/V K. SULGER BY 4 ATTORNEY Nov. 6, 1962 c. K. SULGER KITE FLYINGAPPARATUS Filed Aug. 28, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.5

FIG.4

FIG.6

INVENTOR CHA PLYN K. SULGER M Q 02 m ATTORNEY tates ilite This inventionrelates to kite flying, more particularly to kite accessories and theircombination with a kite, and still more particularly to devices whichmay be employed to slide upwardly along a kite line under the influenceof wind currents and to carry to an upper portion of the kite linevarious types of loads to be placed in space within pre-determineddistances from said upper portion.

Kite line travelling devices adapted to carry parachutes to an upperportion of a kite line and to release them so that they may fall toearth have been used heretofore. However, heretofore there has not beendevised a means for carrying up a kite line and releasing into spacesuch non-parachute type loads as simulated space men and for maintainingsuch objects in space at controlled distances from the release points.It is an object of the present invention to provide such means.

An object of the invention is to provide a device of the above characterthat will be propelled upwardly along the kite line under the influenceof wind currents acting on the device itself and on the load carriedthereby and that will permit the load to be released automatically at anupper portion of the kite line, to drift in the space surrounding saidportion, without permitting said load to fall to the ground. I Anotherobject of the invention is to provide a combination of a kite linetravelling device and an inflatable load, for example, a load shaped tosimulate a space man, operable to simulate space exploration.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided an apparatusfor kite flying, comprising the combination of a body member, means forslidably attaching said body member to the kite line of a flying kite,means for releasably securing a load in a position close to said bodymember during the journey of said body member up said kite line, saidlast means being actuatable by contact with a stop device located at anupper portion of said kite line to release said load at said upperportion and permit said load to move away from said body member to adistance limited by a tethering line connecting said load and said bodymember, and means for securing one end of said tethering line to saidbody member.

In a more specific embodiment of the invention there is provided thecombination of kite flying apparatus which comprises a kite, a kite linewith which said kite may be flown from the ground, a kite line travellerslidably attach able to said kite line to permit said traveller totravel up said kite line while said kite is in flight from a firstposition near the ground to a second position at an upper portion ofsaid kite line, a load adapted to be carried by said traveller up saidkite line, release means for releasably securing said load near saidtraveller while said traveller travels from said first position to saidsecond position, a tethering line adapted to have one end attached tosaid traveller and one end attached to said load and to be carried in aslack condition with said traveller and said load from said firstposition to said second position, and means operable at said secondposition for actuating said release means whereby said load may moveaway from said traveller to a distance limited by the length of saidtethering line.

The novel features of the invention are set forth with particularity inthe appended claims. The invention will best be understood, however,both as to organization and operation, and additional objects andadvantages thereof will be apparent from the following description ofspecific atent Q embodiments when read in connection with theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a kite line travelling devicecarrying an inflated load means upwardly along a kite line,

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a kite, including kite tail,

PEG. 3 is a perspective view showing two inflated objects flying inspace in a tethered condition from the upper portion of a kite linefollowing their release from kite line travellers,

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal view of a kite line traveller, including loadrelease means,

FIG. 5 is a sectional elevation View taken along the line S5 of FIG. 4,and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a kite line stop device adapted toterminate the upward travel of a kite line traveller.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there shown is a perspective view of a kiteline travelling device carrying an inflated load upwardly along a kiteline. The inflated load may be a simulated space man, as shown, or maybe any other inflated object, preferably one that will serve to simulatevarious aspects of space travel and space exploration, for example, arocket, missile, space platform, or space car.

Still referring to FIG. 1, the embodiment there shown is operated in thefollowing manner. A kite, described hereinafter in connection with FIG.2, at the end of kite line 1 is launched in the wind and permitted toascend to a pre-deterrnined height. Kite line traveller 2, hereinaftermore fully described in connection with FIGS. 4 and 5, is attached tokite line 1 by means of split rings 3. An inflated load 4, which may bemade of polyethylene, in this case a simulated space man inflated withair or a lighter-than-air gas through valve 5, is attached to kite linetraveller 2 by means of flexible lengthy tethering line 6 wound on areel 7 and having one end thereof secured to said reel 7 and the otherend thereof secured to flexible lines 8, 9 and it as shown. Lines 6, 8and 10 may be any suitable, lightweight flexible lines, made of materialsuch as conventional twisted cotton cord or nylon. Line 10, in turn, isreleasably attached to traveller 2 at two points as shown, and as morefully described hereinafter in connection with FIGS. 4 and 5, in amanner that will both: (a) provide stability for load 4 during travel oftraveller 2 up kite line 1; and (b) prevent line .6 from unwinding fromreel 7 until line 10 is released from kite line traveller 2.

With traveller 2 in place on kite line 1, and with load 4 attached totraveller 2 as described above, load 4 and traveller 2 are released intothe wind to be propelled upwardly along kite line 1 by the action of thewind and/ or any lighter-than-air gas with which load 4 may have beeninflated, and/ or by any other propelling means provided. If desired,container 11 may comprise a supply of a gas, which may be air, separatedfrom the inflating gas for load 4, under pressure and releasable in acontrolled manner from container 11 by opening valve 12, to provideadditional thrust for propelling load 4 up line 1. In such casecontainer 11 may be constructed of polyethylene or other suitablematerial sufficiently rigid to retain its form without inflating, andthe propelling gas supply may be contained in an inflatable bag ofpolyethylene or rubber located within container 11. A line 15, attachedto travel ler 2 as shown, and further attached to a plurality of rings16 disposed on line 1 as shown, may be provided for the purpose ofwithdrawing traveller 2 together with attached load 4 down line 1without the necessity for bringing in line 1, if desired.

A stop device 17, which otherwise may be called an impact device ordetonating device, is attached to line 1 at a pre-determined upperportion of line 1 where it is desired to have traveller 2 stop and tohave load 4 be released to reel out into space at the end of tetheringline 6. When traveller 2, in its upward travel, impinges upon stopdevice 17, the resulting impact actuates release member 18 of traveller2 as described in connection with FIG. 4, to release line 10. Upon thisoccurrence load 4, under the action of wind currents, floats away fromtraveller 2, reeling out into apace, as shown in the drawing by thedotted position of load 4, at the end of tethering line 6 as tetheringline 6 unwinds from reel 7.

It has been found that even if load 4 has been inflated only with airand not with a lighter-than-air gas, it is readily propelled up line 1under the influence of wind currents and, upon impact of release member18 against stop device 17, automatically reels out into space with anextremely realistic effect when viewed from the ground, simulating spaceexploration from" a space platform. As discussed below, more than oneinflated load 4 may be used to achieve further space effects, includingthe effect of space exploration by a team of space men.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that numerous othermodes of operation of the present invention may be used, including theuse of a plurality of loads 4 on one traveller 2, and the use of aplurality of travellers 2 together with their associated inflated loads.For example, a plurality of inflated space men releasably attached tothe same or different travellers may be released into space at the endsof tethering lines. Where two inflated loads such as inflated space menare to be carried by separate travellers and each is to be released atthe end of a tethering line, a first traveller 2 may be caused torelease its load by impinging upon stop device 17, and a followingtraveller may be caused to release its load by impinging upon the firststopped traveller. In this situation there will be no interferingcontact between the two loads at the release points, because the firstload will have been released by the time the second load arrives at itsrelease point.

In a particularly interesting mode of operation of the present inventionan extremely realistic simulated space exploration effect may beobtained by an arrangement wherein a first space man is sent aloft tothe space platform, to await there the arrival of a second space man,who then takes up a station at the space platform and releases the firstspace man for space exploration duties. In this mode of operation aninflated space man 4, releasably attached to a kite line traveller 2 issent up kite line 1, and thereafter a second inflated space man 4 issent up kite line 1 on a travelling device that is not actuatable torelease its load, for example a travelling device similar to traveller 2except having no release means, reel 7 or tethering line 8. In this modeof operation, in order to prevent the first space man from beingreleased on his tethering line before the second space man arrives atthe space platform to take up his position there, the traveller 2associated with the first space man may be exactly reversed on kite line1 from the position shown in FIG. 1, so that release member 18 will notbe actuated when traveller 2 reaches stop device '17, but will beactuated by being impinged upon from below by the travelling deviceassociated with the second space man. In this mode of operation it willbe desirable to use a release member 18 that extends out further fromthe body of the first traveller than does the release member 18 shown inFIG. 1, or to use a second traveller having a body member extending wellahead of the point of attachment of its load, in order to preventinterfering contact between the two separate loads during operation.

While traveller 2, particularly when it is of an extremely lightweightconstruction, Will remain in contact with stop device 17 under theaction of wind currents acting on traveller 2 and on load 4, unlesstraveller 2 its withdrawn by means of line 15, it may be desired toprovide additional means for insuring that traveller 2 will remain incontact with stop device 17 for so long as may be desired. Suchadditional means may be, for example, magnetic means such as a smallmagnet 19 secured to the end of traveller 18 and operable in conjunctionwith a small piece of metal 20 secured to stop device 17.

Referring now to FIG. 2 there shown is a kite 21 of a preferred type foruse in connection with the present invention. Bowed cross-members 25 maybe maintained in a bowed condition by means of taut strings 26. Thesecross-members may be covered with a lightweight sheet material 27, whichmay be heavy rice paper or preferably polyethylene. Covering material 27may be secured to the ends of cross-members 25 by any suitable means;where polyethylene is used it has been found that it may be quickly,securely and satisfactorily attached to the ends of cross-members 25 byrubber bands. Kite 21 may have a tail 28, which desirably is shaped asshown to simulate such a space accessory as an atomic power supply forthe associated space platform-kite. Tail 28 may be constructed of asuitable lightweight material such as polyethylene and may include afunctional inverted cone 29 through which wind currents may funnel. Tail28 may be attached to kite 21 by any suitable flexible line 30.

Kite 21 preferably will be so shaped as to have an appearance consistentwith real space objects such as space platforms and flying saucers. Itwill be understood that it is within the scope of the present inventionto use, in lieu of a kite such as the one shown, an inflated kite, aballoon, or space-age kites such as those shown in United States Patents2,903,207 and 2,934,295. All such kites, inflated kites and balloons areintended to be embraced by the term kite whenever the same is usedherein.

Referring now to FIG. 3 there shown is an embodiment of the presentinvention wherein two inflated simulated space men 4 are shown reelingout into space at the ends of tethering lines 6, to achieve a verystriking simulated space exploration effect when viewed from the ground.

Referring now to FIG. 4 there shown is a longitudinal view of a suitablekite line traveller 2 for use in connection with the present invention,including rings 3 for attaching the traveller to a kite line, releasemember 18, member 18, magnet 19, a reel 7, and line 10, all discussedheretofore in connection with FIG. 1. Kite line traveller 2 and itsassociated release member 18 and reel 7 may be constructed of anysuitable lightweight material; it has been found that a lightweightplastic material may be readily stamped, moulded and pressed to thedesired configurations and is eminently satisfactory. In the embodimentshown, impact of release member 18 against the kite line stop device,forces release member 18 back against the opposing action of spring 30to release line 10 from its points of attachment to traveller 2.

Referring now to FIG. 5 there shown is a sectional elevation view takenalong the line 55 of FIG. 4 showing release member 18 slidably locatedat the body portion of traveller 2.

Referring now to FIG. 6 there shown is an embodiment of a stop device 17which may be used in connection with the present invention. In theembodiment shown the stop device 17 may be moulded from a material suchas plastic. It way be attached to line 1 by slipping a portion of line1, as shown, into a clip 31, which may be a metal or plastic clip, andthen by slipping a different portion of line 1 into the longitudinalcenter of stop device 17 through slot 32 and then by sliding stop device17 and clip 31 together in a press fit obtainable by having the innerend of slot 32 shaped in a configuration to correspond with the shape ofclip 31.

From the foregoing it may be seen that the present invention operates ina novel and effective manner to simulate various forms of spaceexploration with striking effect that is both visually pleasing andeducational. It

will be appreciated that various changes in the modes of constructionand operation of the present invention that have been described andillustrated may be made without departing from the spirit of theinvention, and all such changes are intended to be included within thescope of the appended claims. For example, the reeled tethering line 6referred to herein may be an antenna for a small radio transmittercarried aloft and unreeled into space at an upper portion of kite line 1under the influence of a load 4. Such a transmitter could be actuatedfrom the ground through pulls on an operating line, such as line 15, totransmit code messages to a radio receiver located on the ground.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for kite flying, comprising the combination of a bodymember, means for slidably attaching said body member to the kite lineof a flying kite, means for releasably securing a load in a positionclose to said body member during the journey of said body member up saidkite line, said last means being actuatable by contact with a stopdevice located at an upper portion of said kite line to release saidload at said upper portion and permit said load to move away from saidbody member, a tethering line for connecting said load and said bodymember, and means for securing one end of said tethering line to saidbody member.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1, with the additional element of reel meansfor maintaining said tethering line in a wound condition until said loadis released at said upper portion.

3. Apparatus as in claim 2, wherein said reel means is mounted on one ofthe elements of the combination of said body member and said load.

4. The combination of kite flying apparatus which comprises a kite, akite line with which said kite may be flown from the ground, a kite linetraveller slidably attachable to said kite line to permit said travellerto travel up said kite line while said kite is in flight from a firstposition near the ground to a second position at an upper portion ofsaid kite line, a load adapted to be carried by said traveller up saidkite line, release means for releasably securing said load near saidtraveller while said traveller travels from said first position to saidsecond position, a tethering line adapted to have one end attached tosaid traveller and one end attached to said load and to be carried in aslack condition with said traveller and said load from said firstposition to said second position, and means operable at said secondposition for actuating said release means whereby said load may moveaway from said traveller to a distance limited by the length of saidtethering line.

5. The combination as in claim 4, with the addition of means forreturning said traveller and the load tethered thereto down said kiteline to the ground while said kite remains in flight.

6. The combination as in claim 4, with the addition of means formaintaining said traveller at said second position both before and aftersaid load is released.

7. The combination as in claim 6, wherein said lastnamed means comprisesat least one magnet.

8. The combination of kite flying apparatus which comprises a kite, akite line with which said kite may be flown from the ground, a kite linetraveller slidably attachable to said kite line to permit said travellerto travel up said kite line while said kite is in flight from a firstposition near the ground to a second position at an upper portion ofsaid kite line, an inflatable load adapted to be carried by saidtraveller up said kite line, release means on said traveller forreleasably securing said load near said traveller while said travellertravels from said first position to said second position, a tetheringline adapted to have one end attached to said traveller and one endattached to said load, reel means mounted on one element of thecombination of said traveller and said load for winding said tetheringline thereon and carrying said tethering line in a wound condition withsaid traveller and said load from said first position to said secondposition and means operable at said second position for actuating saidrelease means whereby said tethering line may unwind from said reel assaid load moves away from said traveller to a distance limited by thelength of said tethering line between said load and said traveller.

9. The combination as in claim 8, wherein said means for actuating saidrelease means comprises a stop secured to said kite string at saidsecond position.

10. The combination as in claim 8, wherein said means for actuating saidrelease means comprises a second kite line traveller.

ll. The combination as in claim 8, with the addition of means forreturning said traveller and the load tethered thereto down said kiteline while said kite remains in flight.

12. In a kite flying combination comprising a kite, a kite line forflying said kite from the ground, and a kite line traveller adapted tocarry a load up said kite line While said kite is in flight, theimprovement which comprises inflatable load means for carrying saidtraveller up said kite line to an upper portion thereof, means operableat said upper portion for releasing said load means from said traveller,and a tethering line having one end attached to said traveller and oneend attached to said load means.

13. The combination as in claim 12, wherein reel means are mounted onone of the elements of the combination of said traveller and said loadmeans, for maintaining said tethering line in a wound condition untilsaid load is released at said upper portion.

14. The combination as in claim 13, wherein said reel means are mountedon said traveller.

15. The combination of an inflatable, simulated space object, a kiteline traveller, means for holding said space object in a position nearsaid traveller during travel of said traveller up a kite line, atethering line having one end secured to said traveller and the otherend secured to said space object, and means for releasing said spaceobject at an upper portion of said kite line from said position wherebysaid space object may move away from said traveller to a distancelimited by the length of said tethering line.

16. The combination of claim 15, wherein said object is an inflatablesimulated space man.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,820,603 Lee Jan. 21, 1958 2,927,753 Feldman Mar. 8, 1960 2,983,471Melvin May 9, 1961

